Art (ART)

ART (ART)

The Western State Colorado University Department of Art offers degree programs in multiple emphases that are grounded in the fundamentals of art and design. Western Art students are fully prepared to pursue advanced studies leading to a variety of careers.

This training begins with comprehensive Foundations classes in drawing, two-dimensional design and three-dimensional design. During this first year, students document their university artwork and produce professional portfolios to submit for formal admittance into the Art program.

In their sophomore year, formally-admitted Art students begin to specialize in their emphasis: Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Ceramics, Jewelry, Sculpture, Graphic Design, K-12 Art Education Licensure, Art History. Art majors and minors also take courses in other areas of interest. Degree-seeking Art students additionally have access to two computer labs with digital industry-standard facilities.

Students majoring in Art may select either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for the qualified student intending to graduate with a liberal arts background with an in-depth emphasis in Art. The Bachelor of Arts Degree consists of a Standard Major, or a Comprehensive Major which allows students to specialize in Studio Art (2-D: Painting, Photography, Printmaking; or 3-D: Ceramics, Jewelry, Sculpture), Graphic Design, K-12 Education licensure, and Art History.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree is designed for the qualified student intending to become a professional artist or to pursue graduate study in Art, and is a Comprehensive Major specializing students in Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Ceramics, Jewelry, Sculpture, and Graphic Design.

In their senior year, Art majors exhibit their senior show in the Quigley Gallery, or present their senior art history thesis.

Formal Admission to the Art Program:

Students declare a major or minor in Art to enter into their first year in the program. Students apply for formal admission to the Art program when they have completed most of their Foundation requirements. All degree-seeking students who wish to major or minor in Art must be formally admitted to the Art program in order to take sophomore and upper level Art courses.

To be formally admitted to the Art Program, a student must:

1.submit an application for admission;

2.have demonstrated a minimum competency by completing the following courses with a minimum grade of “C”:

ART 119 Foundation Drawing I

3 cr

ART 120 Foundation Drawing II

3 cr

ART 171 Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional

3 cr

ART 172 Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional

3 cr

and completed two semesters of (with a Satisfactory grade):

ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance

0 cr

3.submit a portfolio of recent art work;

4.submit a current transcript which shows an overall grade-point average of 2.000.

All majors must have an overall grade-point average of 2.500 or above in order to graduate.

All majors require a total of 24 credits of Art Foundation Courses in addition to specific Art emphasis course requirements. A senior exhibition or an art history senior thesis is required of all majors. A quality representation of the student’s artwork from their junior and senior years is used for the senior exhibition.

Art Major: Comprehensive Programs

A minimum of 54 credits is required, including the 24-credit Art Foundation Courses, 24 credits of Art electives (nine credits must be at the 300- or 400-level), and six credits of non-art supporting courses selected in consultation with an Art advisor.

GRAPHIC DESIGN EMPHASIS

A minimum of 54 credits is required, including the 24-credit Art Foundation Courses, three credits of Art electives, three credits of non-art supporting courses selected in consultation with an Art advisor, and the following 24 credits:

Fall Offerings

ART 246 Introduction to Photography

3 cr

ART 257 Introduction to Printmaking

3 cr

ART 270 Introduction to Graphic Design and Illustration

3 cr

ART 283 Introduction to Airbrush

3 cr

Spring Offerings

ART 370 Intermediate Graphic Design

3 cr

ART 271 Calligraphy / Typography

3 cr

Offered both Fall and Spring

ART 470 Advanced Design and Illustration I

3 cr

ART 471 Advanced Design and Illustration II

3 cr

K- 12 ART EDUCATION LICENSURE EMPHASIS

This program provides students with Art content coursework necessary to earn the State of Colorado License in Art Education for K-12 teaching. Specific Education courses which are also required for Art Education Licensure are arranged through the Education Department (see description under Education).

A minimum of 48 credits is required, including the 24-credit Art Foundation Courses and the following 24 credits:

Six of the following (18 credits total):

Fall offerings

ART 203 Introduction to Ceramics

3 cr

ART 230 Introduction to Sculpture

3 cr

ART 235 Introduction to Jewelry

3 cr

ART 257 Introduction to Printmaking

3 cr

ART 280 Introduction to Painting

3 cr

ART 283 Introduction to Airbrush

3 cr

Two of the following (six credits total):

Spring offerings

ART 271 Calligraphy/Typography

3 cr

ART 303 Intermediate Ceramics

3 cr

ART 330 Intermediate Sculpture

3 cr

ART 357 Intermediate Printmaking

3 cr

ART 380 Intermediate Painting

3 cr

It is recommended that students majoring in the Art Education Licensure Emphasis include COM 119 Theatre and Media Aesthetics, and MUS 140 Introduction to Music, in their General Education Liberal Arts Area III electives.

ART HISTORY AND THEORY EMPHASIS

A minimum of 54 credits is required, including the 24 credits of Art Foundation Courses, six credits of Art electives, six credits of non-art supporting courses selected in consultation with an Art History advisor, and the following 18 credits:

Fall offerings

ART 324 Art Criticism and Critical Theory in Contemporary Art

3 cr

ART 421 Art of Mesoamerica and the Andean Region of South America*

3 cr

ART 422 Native American Art of North America*

3 cr

Spring offerings

ART 321 American Art: Colonial to Modern*

3 cr

ART 325 Women Artists*

3 cr

ART 424 Modern Art History, Aesthetics, Theory, and Criticism

3 cr

*Offered every other year.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art

To receive and maintain Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Art candidate status each semester, students must continuously create artwork outside of course assignments that exhibits the highest quality and creativity. When students receive B.F.A. in Art candidate status, they must report to their advisor for continuance in the program. The advisor is responsible for critiques, guidance, and assistance in the completion of the senior exhibition.

At the completion of the B.F.A. Foundation Program, students’ portfolios should demonstrate the criteria identified by the Art faculty and B.F.A. acceptance form. The review committee will identify students’ portfolios that reflect Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art degree potential.

Students wishing to apply for candidacy to the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Program must: apply no earlier than the spring of their sophomore year and no later than the fall of their junior year, present a portfolio of recent art works, specify an emphasis of study, be in good academic standing, and have completed the following courses with a minimum grade of “C”:

ART 119 Foundation Drawing I

3 cr

ART 120 Foundation Drawing II

3 cr

ART 171 Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional

3 cr

ART 172 Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional

3 cr

All Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Majors require the 36-credit BFA Foundation Courses. All Art courses must be selected in consultation with an Art advisor.

A senior exhibition is required of all majors. A quality representation of students’ artwork from the junior and senior years is used for the senior exhibition.

A minimum of 63 credits is required including the 36-credit BFA Foundation Courses, six credits of Art electives, and 21 credits from the following, which must include 15 credits from one painting medium (painting or watercolor):

Fall offerings

ART 280 Introduction to Painting

3 cr

ART 283 Introduction to Airbrush

3 cr

ART 286 Introduction to Watercolor

3 cr

Spring offerings

ART 380 Intermediate Painting

3 cr

ART 386 Intermediate Watercolor

3 cr

Offered both Fall and Spring

ART 480 Advanced Painting I

3 cr

ART 481 Advanced Painting II

3 cr

ART 482 Advanced Painting III

3 cr

ART 486 Advanced Watercolor I

3 cr

ART 487 Advanced Watercolor II

3 cr

ART 488 Advanced Watercolor III

3 cr

TWO-DIMENSIONAL ART: PHOTOGRAPHY EMPHASIS

A minimum of 63 credits is required including the 36-credit BFA Foundation Courses, six credits of Art electives, and the following 21 credits:

Fall offerings

ART 246 Introduction to Photography

3 cr

ART 270 Introduction to Graphic Design and Illustration

3 cr

Spring offerings

ART 346 Intermediate Photography

3 cr

ART 370 Intermediate Graphic Design

3 cr

Offered both Fall and Spring

ART 446 Advanced Photography I

3 cr

ART 447 Advanced Photography II

3 cr

ART 448 Advanced Photography III

3 cr

TWO-DIMENSIONAL ART: PRINTMAKING EMPHASIS

A minimum of 63 credits is required including the 36-credit BFA Foundation Courses, six credits of Art electives, and the following 21 credits:

Fall offerings

ART 246 Introduction to Photography

3 cr

ART 257 Introduction to Printmaking

3 cr

Spring offerings

ART 357 Intermediate Printmaking

3 cr

Offered both Fall and Spring

ART 457 Advanced Printmaking I

3 cr

ART 458 Advanced Printmaking II

3 cr

ART 459 Advanced Printmaking III

3 cr

One of the following:

ART 280 Introduction to Painting

3 cr

ART 286 Introduction to Watercolor

3 cr

THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART: CERAMICS EMPHASIS

A minimum of 63 credits is required, including the 36-credit BFA Foundation Courses, six credits of Art electives, and the following 21 credits:

Fall offerings

ART 203 Introduction to Ceramics

3 cr

ART 230 Introduction to Sculpture

3 cr

ART 235 Introduction to Jewelry

3 cr

Spring offerings

ART 303 Intermediate Ceramics

3 cr

Offered both Fall and Spring

ART 403 Advanced Ceramics I

3 cr

ART 404 Advanced Ceramics II

3 cr

ART 405 Advanced Ceramics III

3 cr

THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART: JEWELRY EMPHASIS

A minimum of 63 credits is required, including the 36-credit BFA Foundation Courses, six credits of Art electives, and the following 21 credits:

Fall offerings

ART 203 Introduction to Ceramics

3 cr

ART 230 Introduction to Sculpture

3 cr

ART 235 Introduction to Jewelry

3 cr

Spring offerings

ART 335 Intermediate Jewelry

3 cr

Offered both Fall and Spring

ART 435 Advanced Jewelry I

3 cr

ART 436 Advanced Jewelry II

3 cr

ART 437 Advanced Jewelry III

3 cr

THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART: SCULPTURE EMPHASIS

A minimum of 63 credits is required, including the 36-credit BFA Foundation Courses, six credits of Art electives, and the following 21 credits:

Fall offerings

ART 203 Introduction to Ceramics

3 cr

ART 230 Introduction to Sculpture

3 cr

ART 235 Introduction to Jewelry

3 cr

Spring offerings

ART 330 Intermediate Sculpture

3 cr

Offered both Fall and Spring

ART 430 Advanced Sculpture I

3 cr

ART 431 Advanced Sculpture II

3 cr

ART 432 Advanced Sculpture III

3 cr

DESIGN ART: GRAPHIC DESIGN EMPHASIS

A minimum of 63 credits is required, including the 36-credit BFA Foundation Courses, and the following 27 credits:

Fall offerings

ART 246 Introduction to Photography

3 cr

ART 257 Introduction to Printmaking

3 cr

ART 270 Introduction to Graphic Design and Illustration

3 cr

ART 271 Calligraphy / Typography

3 cr

Spring offerings

ART 370 Intermediate Graphic Design

3 cr

Offered both Fall and Spring

ART 375 Magazine Production (one semester required)

3 cr

ART 470 Advanced Design and Illustration I

3 cr

ART 471 Advanced Design and Illustration II

3 cr

ART 472 Advanced Design and Illustration III

3 cr

Art Minor

A minimum of 18 credits is required:

ART 119 Foundation Drawing I

3 cr

ART 120 Foundation Drawing II

3 cr

ART 171 Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional

3 cr

ART 172 Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional

3 cr

Art electives

3 cr

One of the following:

ART 222 Art History I

3 cr

ART 223 Art History II

3 cr

Capstone Course Requirement. The following course in the Art Major fulfills the capstone course requirement: ART 400 Artist’s Portfolio/Senior Exhibition.